Wikipedia and Encyclopedia

1)    What is a brief history of the encyclopedia?

The encyclopedias are the type of reference work and a compendium holding a summary of information all kind of knowledge. The word encyclopedia comes from the Greek, and its meaning is "general education". They have existed for around 2,000 years, the first encyclopedia is called Naturalis Historia and it was wrote by A Roman citizen named Pliny the Elder. This has 37 chapters and it covering natural history, art and architecture, medicine, geography, geology and all aspects of the world. This book still exist. The aim of an encyclopedia is to collect knowledge strewed around the world. nowadays, some encyclopedias are electronic and people can see them freely on the internet, just like Wikipedia and Citizendium.

2) What are some key features of that encyclopedia

     a) according to Wikipedia

The encyclopaedia was developed from the dictionary in the 18th century. It has been researched and written by well-educated content expert. It contents a wide range of words and their definitions. Wikipedia is an electronic encyclopaedia and people can use it freely on the Internet. It can be amended freely by anybody, so when new things emerge, people can record it down in this encyclopedia, we can say it is up to dated . Also, each word’s encyclopaedia has many different languages version, such as English, Japan, Chinese, ect.

     b) according to Encyclopedia Brittannica

Encyclopedia Brittannica is also an electronic encyclopaedia, but it is charged online, when people use it it require us to pay a fee. It is a general knowledge English-language Encyclopedia that is available in print and on the Internet. Also it is edited by scholars, and it has regarded as one of the most scholarly of encyclopedias. 

3) Which encyclopedia was most useful for this research?

I think Encyclopedia Brittannica is more useful, because its information, content are more abundant and in a wider range and they are well structured. Also, the content and explanation are longer and well summarized. Since, Encyclopedia Brittannica’s detail contents a lot of reference and they are clearly showed, its information is more trustful. 

4) Can you trust this encyclopedia (the one you used) 100%? Why or why not?

I used to use Wikipedia. Because it is more convenience for use and it seems include all words meaning, we can search every things in it. Also, it writes in a easy way, it is easier for me to understand the brief idea of the word I research for. But I wont trust it 100%, I just use that information as a reference. Because the information’s reference is not clear, most of them are not come from the authorities or academic book or articles, they just copy from the Internet. Also, everyone can be able to write and edit it, we can’t sure whether the information is right or wrong.